On Thu, 13 Jan 2000, Vidyasankar Sundaresan wrote:
[..]
> >Considering both the above declarations, why can we not say the >injunction
> >is applicable for one who has the desire for heaven AND >the required
> >wealth?
>> Yes, of course.
Thank you so much for telling me exactly what I wanted to hear! I can now
say I have absolutely no desire whatsoever for heaven and that I choose
not to perform this particular sacrifice!
> But one fails to see why there anything in the above should
> be seen as internally contradictory or inconsistent.
>
Not at all -- nothing to do with pointing out contradictions or
inconsistencies.
I personally have never come across an animal sacrifice and would do
almost anything to squirm out of performing such a sacrifice. If there's
any -- ANY -- allowance whatsoever in this regard, I would immediately
make use of it and choose the alternative.
Had I been brought up in an environment where animal slaughter was
routine, I may have become "desensitized" to the killing of an animal, and
maybe even performed such a sacrifice with alacrity. But there's no way I
can start now, and will definitely not do so if there's a choice element
involved.
That's why I explored PishhTa-pashu yaGYas and other alternatives galore,
thinking the sacrifices may be an obligatory duty for me :-)
[..]
> the result, but one who wants to sacrifice can sacrifice.
That's no problem, and is none of my business anyway. I'm no animal rights
activist.
> If one wishes to
> sacrifice, but feels queasy about slaughtering an animal in the process,
> then one can conceivably give up the intention to sacrifice, and turn to the
> alternative action of recitation.
Then that's it for me :-)
> However, there is no allowance for
> modifying any part of the sacrificial act itself.
>
That wouldn't be necessary if the performance is by choice and not a rule
to be enforced.
> Vidyasankar
Thanks again!
Kartik
--
bhava shankara deshikame sharaNam
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